The activity of the VN (vagus nerve) is negatively associated with risk factors such as stress and smoking, morbidity and mortality. In contrast, it is also a target of therapeutic intervention. VN stimulation is used in depression and epilepsy. Because of its high invasivity and exclusive application to therapy-resistant patients, there is interest in less invasive methods affecting the VN. Several studies examining acupuncture report beneficial effects on vagal activity. However, findings are inconsistent, and applied methods are heterogeneous resulting in difficulties in interpretation. The purpose of the present study was evaluation of the effects of acupuncture on vagal activity in a three-armed randomized trial while controlling several disturbing factors. Fourteen healthy men participated in random order in four examinations: a control condition without intervention, a condition with placebo, manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture. Acupuncture was conducted on the concha of the ear, as there is neuroanatomical evidence for vagal afferents. Each examination took place once, with a week's time between examinations. RSATR (respiratory sinus arrhythmia adjusted for tidal volume) indicating vagal activity was measured continuously. The study was conducted partially blind in accordance with recommendations. After controlling for respiration, condition-specific pain sensation, individual differences in belief of acupuncture effectiveness and time effects not attributable to the interventions, electroacupuncture but not manual acupuncture was found to have a positive effect on RSATR. The results underline the potential role of auricular electrical stimulation to induce an increase in vagal activity, and it therefore might be used as preventive or adjuvant therapeutic intervention promoting health.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
February 02 2010
Effects of auricular electrical stimulation on vagal activity in healthy men: evidence from a three-armed randomized trial
Roberto La Marca;
Roberto La Marca
*Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Marko Nedeljkovic;
Marko Nedeljkovic
*Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Lizhuang Yuan;
Lizhuang Yuan
†Department of Psychology, Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
‡Department of Psychology, Hebei Normal University, Hebei, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Andreas Maercker;
Andreas Maercker
†Department of Psychology, Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Ulrike Ehlert
*Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
§Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Correspondence: Professor Ulrike Ehlert (email [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 07 2009
Revision Received:
November 03 2009
Accepted:
November 09 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 09 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society
2010
Clin Sci (Lond) (2010) 118 (8): 537–546.
Article history
Received:
May 07 2009
Revision Received:
November 03 2009
Accepted:
November 09 2009
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 09 2009
Citation
Roberto La Marca, Marko Nedeljkovic, Lizhuang Yuan, Andreas Maercker, Ulrike Ehlert; Effects of auricular electrical stimulation on vagal activity in healthy men: evidence from a three-armed randomized trial. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 April 2010; 118 (8): 537–546. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20090264
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |